After dominating the British Formula Three Championship in 1981 and then Formula Two in 1983, Jonathan drove first for RAM and then Zakspeed in Formula One, although he had shown well in a one-off drive with Williams in the 1983 European Grand Prix. He then started a three-year liaison with Tyrrell. In his first season, 1987, he won the Jim Clark Cup as best non-turbo driver, but 1988 was a disaster with a poor car. His career was briefly revitalized by the 018 chassis in 1989, only for him to be overshadowed by Jean Alesi in the latter half of the season. After that, Palmer, with some realistic self-appraisal, decided his career was over. He commentated for the BBC and then formed his own junior formula - Formula Palmer Audi - for 1998. Justin Wilson was his first champion and Jonathan then helped him reach Formula One. Palmer then began to develop a corporate entertainment company and acquired a 50-year lease on a 400-acre portion of an old airfield in Bedford and got planning permission to turn it into a four-circuit facility. He also launched his own racing series, known as Formula Palmer Audi and moved into driver management with Justin Wilson. In recent years Palmer has bought control of the Brands Hatch circuits and is now developing them along similar lines.

Reproduced from The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Formula One published by Carlton Books